Trying to quit smoking

[binaryzero]

..It's hard. 

[WinMacLin Guy]

I think you are making the right choice by quitting A friend of mine recently quit, and he also said that it was hard at first but when he got cravings he would distract himself by playing video games, going out with friends, and even going on forums and talking about his experience there, it seemed to work for him so if you have hard time you should consider some of the things that he tried. Anyways best of luck

[Lord Zog]

Quitting is very hard. It takes a lot of drive and dedication. I quit last April and I had to change a lot of my lifestyle to get over it. Go for walks, join a gym and drink lots of water. You can do it, I smoked for 20 years, and I am smoke free now and I feel great! Just after the first month off, I noticed a HUGE difference!

 

Not to mention, the money saved! I was spending close to 100 a week...

 

Good luck, but it is doable! The first 3 days were the worst.. I wanted to punch the first thing that moved! lol

[LUTZIFER]

I've smoked for around 30 years, very heavily. Usually at around 3 packs a day, depending on what I'm doing, sometimes even 5 packs.

Around half a year ago, I got in to nicotine vaporizers, and haven't touched a cigarette since the day I bought my first vaporizer.

I still have a pack and a half of smokes sitting in my drawer too, and have never ever had any craving to light one up.

Didn't take very long for me to get all my energy back, no more coughing, and I used to cough so much a pretty much passed out, and I feel totally healthy now.

Also I save a ton of money now since I only spend around 30 bucks every 2 weeks on e-juice for my vaporizer.

But the vaporizers and the atomizers I buy can be costly, but in the long run it's still incredibly cheaper than buying cigarettes.

[Gladiatorus]

Yes it is. The main ingredient to quit smoking is to really want to, if you are trying to quit because you know it's bad, because it smells, you are having health issues, people tell you to, blah, blah, blah, and you don't really want to, most likely you won't make it, you could leave it for a while (may be even some years), but you'll smoke again. Sorry to repeat my self so much but, you have to be convinced (for whatever reason, it doesn't really matter).

 

Now, after 26 years of smoking, the only things that helped me quit were an electronic cigarette and not think of the process as a punishment, I had a pack of cigarettes stored in the fridge because if I wanted to smoke I was going to let me do it without any guilt (I never touched it). I vaped with nicotine for just 2 weeks, and then I started with 0 nicotine liquid.

 

Be as disciplined as you can, but don't turn the process into torture.

 

Good luck and congrats! You don't know how good you will feel. (Y)

[+Zagadka Subscriber²]

I'm also trying to quit, Again, I've been on-off for 15 years. 

 

One thing to try, write down how much money you are spending every day on it, and every time you get winded just getting dressed to go out and buy another pack.

 

I tried the e-cigs. They work for some people, but don't for others. It is worth a shot, I guess.

[binaryzero]

The problem I'm having is trying to distract myself from smoking - If I'm not home I'm fine, but once I get here pfffft cravings kick in. 

 

FML haha.

[+Zagadka Subscriber²]

My problem is that I just really like sitting outside having a smoke, especially if it is raining.

 

The patches do help, too. They aren't enough *alone*, but they really take the edge off if you put a new one on before bed (use medical tape to stick it in place, their adhesive sucks)... it is a lot easier to get through the day without the first smoke of the day.

[binaryzero]

Yeah I love just chilling out and having a smoke - that's what I'm struggling with now. 

 

TV is really boring without smoking....

[articuno1au]

When you get the need to smoke, go for a walk. Around the block enough times to rack up a kilometre.

 

You're fighting a habit as much as an urge.

 

Find a way to break the habit and control the urge.

[He's Dead Jim]

You can do it.

[binaryzero]

Aaarrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh!!! 

[DConnell Member]

Aaarrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh!!! 

 

Don't give up. Take every hour you don't smoke as a victory.

 

You said watching TV without a smoke is boring. I'd suggest finding some other way to occupy yourself while watching. For example: I love models and toys and LEGO, so I often have a model kit or a figure to fiddle with.A few days ago I was dead tired and stressed after running around supporting our new computerized inventory process. Fortunately, my latest Reprolabels order came in - custom deco stickers for Transformers. I spent the evening applying those stickers, a painstaking process to make the figure look just right. Just the thing to take my mind off work. When I was done I was nicely relaxed, and had a couple awesome-looking figures to show for my efforts.

 

Find something else to occupy your mind at home. Or invite friends/family over. My best friend would probably yank a cigarette right out of my mouth if I were trying to quit (I don't smoke, BTW).

 

Keep at it. You can do it.

[Max Norris]

Yea it's super tough.

 

I quit once in my early 20's.  Quit for ~3 years actually, cold turkey.  Lots and lots of chewing gum and frayed nerves and cheesed off friends/family.  Couldn't do that now, willpower isn't what it used to be, I know I'd snap and be on the roof with a rifle if I tried that now.  Once in a while that serious urge would hit me out of the blue.. usually got past it.  But like an idiot I eventually fell into the "one won't hurt me" trap.. sure as hell does, 3 years work wrecked in 5 minutes.  The habit is the worst part, you're your own worst enemy there, especially if you liked smoking to begin with.  Having someone to "spot" you definitely helps, give them carte blanch to slap you around if needed to keep you from smoking.  I didn't have that at the time, paid for it.

 

Fast forward 20 years, I kinda-sorta quit again.  I've messed with patches and nicotine gum and such, didn't do it for me.  This time switched to e-cigs.   Haven't had a real cigarette in about 4 years now, which is sort of a win, ish.  Lungs feel a lot better anyway, now I just need to kick the chemical and mental addiction.. been slowly lowering my nicotine content in the fluid, will be at zero soon.. once I get past that speedbump it'll literally be all in my head, and if I mess up I can't get chemically addicted again.  Not advocating it as a solution for everyone, but it's been working for me and I do plan on getting rid of it across the board in the near future, and it gives me a safety net for when I slip, and I know I will.  (Lot cheaper than the real things too.)  Might be worth considering. 

[Draconian Guppy]

I lived with smokers for years, they tried everything! patches gum pills...

 

Lately, ecigs seem to be very effective

[TDT]

I tried to quit last year, switched to ecigs and everything seemed fine for about 6 months. I decreased the nicotine level each month, but at some point I started feeling like throwing up every time I used the ecig. I really don't know why. At first I thought I should lower the nicotine level again, but it doesn't work. I also tried other brands and flavours, it was the same. Eventually, I got back to normal cigarettes.

[ManMountain]

Smoked for 20 odd years, attempting to stop throughout without much success. Haven't touched a cigarette for around two years now, thanks to my e-cig

[Depicus]

33 years smoking and decided to quit so started smoking exactly 10 a day and once they were gone that was it. Then two or three weeks later go to 9, and so on until I got to 4 a day for a month then just stopped. Had a few blips but still not smoking.

[Obry]

I switched to eCigs and I'm very happy with it. The few times I've gotten drunk and wanted a cancer stick for some reason (towards the beginning of switching) I have regretted it. Once you find a couple flavors that you like and can vape all day you'll be fine (sticking to just one flavor day after day will get boring and you'll get too used to the flavor to where it won't taste good anymore - gotta switch it up every few days). You can select how much nicotine you get in the juices you get - depends on how much you smoke (and how much of a throat hit you need at first), you can start with 18mg even 24mg nicotine and then go down to 12, 6 and even 0 in the end. I'm personally still doing 11mg since I just recently quit completely. Other friends who don't (or haven't) smoke seem to be happy around 6mg.

 

Don't get those cigarette looking things. Many people seem to think those are good to try ecigs for first time. You'll get annoyed at how quickly batteries drain, atomizers in those things are generally crappy so flavor isn't as good, etc, etc. I can personally recommend the Aspire Premium Kit (http://sweet-vapes.com/aspire-premium-kit.html). For $54 you get the whole kit and 5 spare coils (those usually run between $12-15/5 pack online - I change mine every 1 1/2 weeks roughly).

 

I buy my juices from http://www.ejuicemonkeys.com but try to find a local vape shop and go try a bunch of flavors there to see what you like. There are so many flavors out there that just reading the descriptions isn't enough. Then you can go to that site and order a sampler pack (5 small bottles and with each order there you always get a free sample so 6 total). I do 50% PG/VG flavors personally. Also if made fresh to order, juices need to sit more than 2 weeks to develop full flavor. Usually the ones you get at the local smoke shops would be at least 1-2 weeks old so they should have developed most of their flavor by now. 

 

Everyone has their own taste buds but my favorite juices are:

 

Monkey's Blood (both my wife and my boss love this one):

http://ejuicemonkeys.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_8&products_id=812

 

Jamaican 10 Speed:

http://ejuicemonkeys.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_8&products_id=303

 

Jamaican Sunrise:

http://ejuicemonkeys.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_8&products_id=44

 

I personally like fruity flavors but not to sweet. I like nice smooth flavors.

 

Hope to see you posting about ecigs, kits, juices, etc soon

[Max Norris]

Don't get those cigarette looking things.

Best piece of e-cig advice ever. Do some research and get a quality device.. those ones you see on TV, etc are about as useful as lighting up a pencil. (And taste about the same.) Little extra effort, much better experience as a result.

[NightmarE D]

I quit last year after getting an angiogram done and being told all arteries are 30-50% clogged up. Had been having chest pains for a few months leading up to having that done. Got it done, came home and smoked half a cig I had left and used nicotine lozenges for a week and haven't had a single one since then.

 

Sorry, but e-cigs aren't the way to go if you're trying to quit. Yeah you're getting less chemicals into your system, but you're still getting that addictive nicotine that's still in a form of a cigarette. Sorry, but anytime I hear someone say "Yeah I tried or am trying to quit so I gave up real cigs for the e-cigs" I laugh. With the gum or lozenges you can switch that out for hard candy and regular gum. Real cigs to e-cigs helps nothing.

 

I'm 35 and smoked for 22 years (started too young) and stopped it within a week and a half and I was a heavy smoker. I know for a fact it can be done. Watched it kill my mother then started chest pains that felt like my heart was in a vice and thinking about my son growing up without me, that was the final wake-up call.

 

I give full credit to my son and wife. I may have to take lipitor and an inhaler once or twice a day now, but better than smoking. Oh and after 4 days of no cigs, I realized how far gone my sense of taste was and food tastes completely different to me now. When you're 35 and realize you haven't experienced the real taste of food and other stuff in 20+ years, that also helps. That was a bonus I didn't expect. Another one was that nicotine can apparently stunt hair growth. My hair has grown nearly 12 inches since last July. Before that it would only grow maybe 3-4 in the same amount of time. That was a weird one lol.

[Obry]

Well everyone is different. I've tried patches, gum, etc MANY times and kept going back to smoking. With e-cigs I have completely quit smoking regular cigarettes and although e-cigs aren't "good" for you, they are A LOT less harmful. I already feel my lungs getting healthier and easier to breathe (not a placebo - noticeable difference without a doubt). Also the idea with e-cigs is to keep using less and less nicotine. Some people go down to 0 and quit, others like vaping and don't consider it as harmful so they vape at 0mg nicotine. 

 

Yes, there are harmful chemicals in e-cigs too (just as there are walking down the sidewalk and inhaling all the fumes from the cars driving by) but also a lot of the ingredients are FDA approved. Not as many studies yet but even my doctor, although not exactly recommending them, isn't frowning upon them either.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i used a Green Smoke e-cig to quit. i've been smoke free for 14 months. The e-cig did just enough to take away the craving. That's all i needed!

[Defiant]

The day I saw my daughter born I never smoked again.

 

You need a reason to leave them. It might be money, a loved one - it might be the cough of death, whichever it is, you need to look at that reason everytime you fancy a smoke and move on from it.

 

All that you "feel" is in the mind; it's trying to get you to have one more last smoke ... it is the last one that will do it for you. All tricks from a mind desperate to fool you into another and another. Will power is the #1 reason people give up, death is the other.

 

Even Star Wars warned you they were "death sticks", clue's in the name.

[Terry504]

just visit hospital that will make ya quit ....did the job for me and i never looked back...15 yrs now